Person-Centred Care - Demystifying Care Terminology

Continuing our series taking the mystery out of social care terminology, in this blog we look at the philosophy of ‘Person-Centred Care’.

If you or a loved one are using health and social care services you may hear the term ‘Person-Centred Care’ being used by the care provider, both in their marketing material and when you visit. What does it mean, and how does it affect the care which you or your loved one will receive?

1. What do we mean by ‘Person-Centred Care’?
2. The Four Principles of Person-Centred Care
3. How does a person-centred care approach affect the care I receive?
4. How do I find a good care home near me?

What do we mean by ‘Person-Centred Care’?

Person-centred care aims to put the person receiving care at the heart of any decisions made by health and social care professionals, regardless of the care setting they are in. This means not only thinking about their physical needs but also their preferences. In a person-centred care package, people should be able to make informed choices about the type of care and support they receive, in conjunction with their health professionals and families (if they wish), to get the best outcomes for them.

Providing person-centred care is a Regulation with the Care Quality Commission, and forms part of the Health and Social Care Act 2004. It is described by the Care Quality Commission as:

The Four Principles of Person-Centred Care

The Health Foundation has identified four key principles to help care providers meet the requirements of person-centred care. These are:

1. Treat people with dignity, compassion, and respect

This means that care providers and staff should respect the feelings, thoughts, opinions and needs of residents. Often, people going into a care home or receiving care and support at home for the first time can feel that they are losing independence and control over their lives. Person-centred care aims to overcome this by making the person receiving support feel empowered, by ensuring that their needs and preferences are considered in any decisions about them and their care.

2. Provide co-ordinated care, support and treatment

If multiple services (such as a care provider, GP, or social worker) are involved in a person’s care, it is important that these services are co-ordinated to provide the best possible outcomes. If services are not co-ordinated, there is a risk that the person’s needs and wishes will not be fully understood or met. All health professionals must therefore ensure that they communicate with each other and keep accurate and up-to-date records.

3. Offer personalised care, support and treatment

This means that care providers should not use a ‘one size fits all’ approach to care and support. As we have mentioned, everyone is an individual and will have their own needs and preferences which should be respected if they are to lead a fulfilling life.

4. Enable people to recognise and develop their strengths and abilities for an independent and fulfilling life

By involving residents in decisions related to their care, they can be supported to remain as independent as possible. This requires a great deal of communication, both with the resident and their families, and may need to be reviewed over time as the resident’s needs change.

How does a person-centred care approach affect the care I receive?

In addition to ensuring that the resident is involved in decisions regarding their care, and that their needs and preferences are considered, you may see acts of person-centred care without even realising it! Examples could include altering the time a resident is helped to go to bed (if their preference is for an earlier or later time); providing assistance tools to promote independence like a shower seat; and offering several choices at mealtimes.

Good examples of person-centred care can also be seen in activities programmes, where some residents choose to do a different activity to the one on the programme. In some care facilities (if staffing levels and health permit) residents are enabled to have a one-to-one outing escorted by a staff member, perhaps to a place of worship, or on a shopping trip, to meet their own preferences.

Person-centred care benefits everyone: from the staff who gain an understanding of the resident and their needs, and therefore build a relationship with them; to the care provider who can see and demonstrate to families and inspectors that residents are safe, happy, and able to make their own decisions, from activities to meals and medication. The person who benefits the most, of course, is the resident, whose wellbeing is at the heart of person-centred care.

How do I find a good care home near me?

The Autumna directory allows you to search for care homes anywhere in the UK.

Just go to the Autumna homepage, select an area you would like to search – for example Sheffield. You can then use our filters to select the care type and price. You could even specify other care requirements or personal needs in the 'Additional Filters', then click 'Search Again'. 

To make your search for the care you need even easier, why not fill in this short questionnaire and Autumna will do the rest for you.

And don’t forget, you can always talk to one of our friendly and helpful team on the Autumna advice line: 01892 335 330. It's open every day of the week (8:30am - 5:30pm Mon-Fri, 10am - 5pm Sat, 10am - 4pm Sun).